Thread: 3 x 30 - they're definitely counting days

Just got back from a visa run to Ban Laem on the Cambo border.

Very slow getting through as the border officials looked at every single page in each person's passport, often several times from front to back. They did this even on the way out of Thailand.

As usual, I was told 'overstay' when at first blush they couldn't figure out my Suan Phlu extension. This was quickly corrected. Next, I was told 'last time' in some pompous face-restoring tone, punctuated by stabbing a pen at three random stamps in my nearly full passport, to which I had no reaction and simply took back my pass. Coming back in, after lots of page turning, I was given my first 30 day entry under the new rules.

On the entry side they worked out the exact days each person had been in country on 30 day entry permits, adding them up on the sports page or whatever scrap of paper was lying around.

There were quite a few wrong totals and quite a few mini-dramas and debates, as most in the line were nearing the end of their permissable 90 days. A lot of people got stamped in for less than 30 days.

They are not using the computer system at all for this at Ban Laem. If you came with a fresh passport, you might not have a problem. One guy had a new temporary pass from the Canadian embassy (b/c he needed extra pages). He was asked to present the old pass, which he had and so he did. They then totalled up the stamps from the old one. Personally, I would have considered declaring the old one lost, at Suan Phlu, after receiving the new one.

A roundtrip through Thai and Cambo immigration that normally takes about 20 minutes took about 1 1/2 hours. Tedious and stressful.

Visa run guys are running a service to Laos to get a 60 day tourist visa -- 2 day trip, 17 hours travel time, 5,900 baht. Can extend for another 30 days at Suan Phlu for 1,900 baht. Word is that you will still need some 30 day entries in between tourist visas, as they will not be issued back to back.

I really marvel at the hassle this entails and all the guys willing to go through with it.

Visa run moment: two female immigration 'officers' chasing each other around a table in the back office before coming outside to 'officiate'. Spotted a brand new bed on the second floor, which I guess is useful for nappy time.

Visa run ettiquette: Some people brought their BGs and 'rent boys'. One guy even brought his 8 yr old kid. I hadn't seen this before. WTF? A bit of drinking on the bus, including some psychotic Norwegian derelict across the aisle from me who knocked down half a litre of fake Cambodian Smirnoff straight from the bottle and sang and yelled for the last 2 hours of the trip.

Wow. Sounds like a horror movie, except worse.

Remind me to keep my day job and one year visa.

BTW, where is Ban Laem?

Thanks for the report.

I'm beginning to see the wisdom of just doing an unofficial overstay.

For anyone in that thirty day boat....it just doesn't sound like it's worth the hassle.

Is it worth the risl on an overstay...depends on circumstances I guess.

I think had I been there I would have helped that Norwegian derelict knock back the other half quart. Too stressfull. Way to stressfull.

What about this dodge...

USD$150,000 will get you a Dominican passport. Used in tandem with your home country's passport I reckon you'd be able to hang in there awhile. Of course, if one had a hundred fifty grand maybe they'd not have to do those silly visa runs.

Never mind.

As i do all my work outside of Thailand for a U.K. firm I asked them to get me a Second Passport, as i might need New Visas for other countries while i am at work. All done and dusted in a week or so. Do Thai immigration check against your name or the Passport number, hoping to do a few switcharoos.

Originally Posted by happynz

What about this dodge... USD$150,000 will get you a Dominican passport. Used in tandem with your home country's passport I reckon you'd be able to hang in there awhile. Of course, if one had a hundred fifty grand maybe they'd not have to do those silly visa runs. Never mind.

The last two words some up this post Happy. You have been drinking havent you mate?

Originally Posted by happynz

What about this dodge...

USD$150,000 will get you a Dominican passport. Used in tandem with your home country's passport I reckon you'd be able to hang in there awhile. Of course, if one had a hundred fifty grand maybe they'd not have to do those silly visa runs.

Never mind.

Or live in Uruguay for two years, that's a pretty good passport or two years in Argentina?

Shouldn't the title read 'they're counting days at this one particular border when I was there'?

Nope. The policy is pretty clear.

They're counting days, buddy, and it's not just at Ban Laem.

But the real question, of course, was not stamps vs days but whether they would enforce the limit, however defined.

They certainly did. And over the past week since I posted, many others have reported the same.

So you're at every border every day? Come on 'buddy' don't be daft!!!

Malaysia border officials said it won't apply there.

People in Pattaya were getting 'last stamps' over a month ago.

And yes while I agree it to an extent is being enforced....I don't know anyone thats' actually been refused entry yet....just getting new Visas elsewhere.

I see no one else on here reporting the same for ALL other borders??? Can you link me please?

Clear as mud J...clear as!

Let's not jump the gun. I never said people were getting turned back. I said they're getting less than 30, and in some cases, 7 days.

People in Pattaya getting 'last stamps' more than a month ago doesn't surprise me. Especially if they were under 30 days from the 90 day limit.

The numbering of the stamps is for reference. People already received '1 - 2 - 3' and then a 4th by the beginning of December. Old news.

When I went through, they didn't bother to number the stamps. Just highlighted them. I've seen this in other people's passports as well, though some had numbers and scribbles from past trips.

I think anyone who's been following this issue has moved on from debating and analyzing similar points already. You're not to live in Thailand for more than 90 days on 30 day stamps within a 180 day period. Overtsays count. Extensions on 30 day stamps count.

If you do, what happens? 7 day stamp. And then? We don't know yet. Possibly 2 or 7 day stamps repeating from then on, or refused entry at the land crossing. Since few people will push it to the max, we'll have to wait for the stories to trickle in.

Not all immi policies / procedures / scenarios are equally ambiguous. To keep saying 'TIT' and 'maybe, never know!' in every case just complicates the process of coming to a useful understanding of likely outcomes based on facts.

More info:

Friends have been to every usable crossing along the Cambo side over the past week. They report the same. Two visa run services I find credible had identical info, and they are very interested in the issue of which border does what. Immi at Aranya recited the day counting policy back to me like a mantra.

Can't give the links because I actually picked up the phone or spoke to people face to face, and know many of them. It wasn't on a thread. Sorry about that

Again, are there going to be some situations where people get a few more or less days than they anticipated? Yes. Is that significant in terms of the big picture? No.

What's the big picture? Living on 30 day runs is a no-go.

Speaking of threads, just looked at thaivisa and there are several long threads where people have piled on with their visa run stories. Almost everyone had the same experience, wherever they went.

A couple of guys did squeak through at Aranya and got their 4th 30 day stamp in a row, when they were at the 90 day limit. Not one of them thought this indicated anything other than blind luck.

Interesting note: Aranya, when I called, did say that, for now, the way they will handle the guys who are over 90 days is to give out 7 day stamps ad infinitum. We'll see.

'Thai officials on the Malaysian border said they won't enforce it' was a story bouncing around the forums quite some time ago. Any current reports from people who've done a run? Not a practical crossing for most. This also speaks to enforcement, not policy.

I'm interested in current reports from any crossings which indicate a wholesale lack of enforcement. So far, I haven't seen any. Just the opposite.

I think there are something like 55 points of entry mate...your title makes it seem they're all counting...I'm pretty sure they're not....which is what I commented on initially...you then said they were....sorry if this offends!!!

Actually 30 day runs are doable in a sense as they're issuing tourist Visas in a lot of places (doubles in some) after 3 x 30 days...so then you can do another 3 x 30 days....EASY!!!

Good info though mate...bad title and too much assumption!!! Until people are turned away....I'll believe it when I see it.

Just did the visa run to Mai Sae- they had a spastic when they saw my passport- I was here 2005 and have more than a couple of pages of stamps from exiting and entering Thailand- They sat there going through it for 15 mins- then gave me a sheet of paper describing the new visa laws- I have only been in the country once in the last 6 months – so I am all good to go! However it took three customs people with mighty frowns on their foreheads to look at my passport for a new Visa- THEY ARE DEFINITELY CHECKING days!!!
I got an extension on my visa for a week and this totally threw them! Cost an absolute fortune! I found out way to late that you have to have a 2 month (sticker) visa in your passport –or you only get 7 days extension! – and it costs about 2000b (same as a two week extension for a 2 month visa). Oh well- live and learn!

Originally Posted by kenkannif

I think there are something like 55 points of entry mate...your title makes it seem they're all counting...I'm pretty sure they're not....which is what I commented on initially...you then said they were....sorry if this offends!!!

'International crossings' are points of entry where you can actually do a run, and these number far fewer than 55.

Cambo side: Hat Lek (Klong Yai), Pong Nam Ron, Ban Laem, Aranyaprathet (4)
Laos: Nong Khai, Mukdahan (2) + possibly Chiang Khong, Thai Li (Loei), Bung Kan, Nakhon Phanom, Chong Mek (5)
Burma: Mae Sai, Mae Sot, Ranong (3)
Malaysia: Sadao, Padang Besar, Betong, Sungai Golok (4)

Of the 18 total above, I'd say 12 are readily accessible. From Bangkok, 4 or 6-7, realistically. From Chiang Mai, 2.

We now have reports from almost every crossing, including the ones that are practical from Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

Actually 30 day runs are doable in a sense as they're issuing tourist Visas in a lot of places (doubles in some) after 3 x 30 days...so then you can do another 3 x 30 days....EASY!!!

Not same.

Good info though mate...bad title and too much assumption!!! Until people are turned away....I'll believe it when I see it.

The title is fine. As for assumptions, see above.

You may or may not be right about the Malaysia crossings (haven't heard yet) though Sadao gets its share of Phuket visa runners and was one of the posts people tried to scam with fake entry stamps awhile back. They've been through the ringer with farangs and I don't see why they wouldn't enforce the new policy, or be exempted from it.

Of course, what they do will be irrelevant to anyone north of Chumphon. Sadao is a 36 hour round trip bus ride from Bangkok. Makes the 17 hour round trip to Savannakhet for a 60+30 day tourist visa seem like child's play.

Again, never said anything about people getting turned away.

My OP was about counting and people getting less than 30, and in some cases, as few as 7 days.